Elevator



(No Model U W. HUBBARD.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

ELEVATOR.

Patented Nov. 16, 1886.

PETERS, Phmmm m m. Wuhlnglnn. n. a

(No Model.) '3Sheets Sheet 2.

w. HUBBARD.

ELEVATOR.

No. 352,871. latqnted Nov. 16, 1886.

lllllnllllllrr lllllllllllllllll N PETERS. PM\DLMWIIEP.IGL Washington. D. C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3..

(No Mode l.)

' HUBBARD.

ELEVATOR.

@JW 'W N. PETERS Pbulmlmmgnphef, Washinghn. DC.

Futon.

PATENT WALES HUBBARD, OF WISOASSET, MAINE.

ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersiPatent No. 352.87 dated November 6.

Application filed April 19, 1886. Serial No. 199,390. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALES HUBBARD, of Wiscasset, in the county of Lincoln and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Im- 5 provement'in Elevators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear,and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to elevators, and is designed more especially for passenger-elevators, the object of theinvention being to automatically arrest the car in event of the breaking of the cable by means of which it is raised or lowered.

The essential feature of the invention is a I5 liquid-cylinder attached to the bottom of the car, and connected to a suitable supply of water or other liquid, witha piston connected to the surface of hrakeways oblique or inclined to the way upon which the car moves, and a valve mechanism for confining the liquid within the cylinder, whereby the piston is arrested and the car stopped, all as hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the car, showing a part of the ways upon which it moves, and the mechanism for arresting the car. resents a modified form of apparatus in which mechanism is provided for preventing the rapidascent of the car. Fig. 2 is .a vertical section of the car, showing a part of the connections in side elevation, and a part in section, as hereinafter explained. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the car and the arresting mechanism. 5 Fig. 4 is a tranverse section of the bottom of the car, showing catch mechanismin' front elevation. Fig. 5 is a section of the car from front to rear, showing the ways in side elevation. Figure 6 is a similar section showing a 40 modification of the cylinder, piston-connections, and brakeways. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the car shown in Fig. 6. Figs. 8, 9, 10, and '11 are details.

The car represented by A is of any ordinary construction. It moves up and down on. vertical Ways a, fixed to standards or wallsin the ordinary mannen. By the sides of these ways, 'as represented more plainly in Fig. 5, are brakeways b I). These brakeways are set obgo liquely to the guideway, being fixed to the standard or wall firmly on one or both sides of Fig. 1 repthe car, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These brakeways diverge from the top downward.

Upon the bottom of the car, arrangedcen trally'from front to rear, is fixed a strong cylinder, preferably of steel, (marked D.) Gentrally of its length is an orifice opening into a pipe, (1, which extends to atank, E, within the car, so that water can flow from tank to cylinder, or reversely. The opening is through a strong boss, f, in which is located a stop-cock or valve, {1, the stems of which, h 72, extend laterally through stuffing-boxes, and are connected to a vane, H, which is pivoted thereby, and which turns on the valve to open or close the passage to the cylinder as the vane falls or rises. In each endof the cylinder is a piston, the rod of which,i,is connected to arms is, which extend diagonally outward, and are connected to brake-shoes K; the said brake-shoes being formed to fit the brakeways and to slide freely thereon, being flared outward, as shown in Fig. 2. The brakeways and brakes are shown in section in Fig. 3. The arms k, as shown in Fig. 3, cross each other, so that outward pressure or resistance of the piston draws or holds the brake-shoes against the brakeways.

I the guideway, andpreferably on each side of If the brakeshoes are made, as shown in Fig. 3, clasping the heads of the brakeways, (which are formed like an ordinary T- rail of a railway,) then, as the car rises and carries up Again, as the car descends the brake-shoes on g each side will be wedged apart or forced outward, and will thus force the pistons into the cylinders, and, the valve being open, the water will be forced back into the tank; but if the valve should be closed the water, prevented from escaping from the cylinder, and being incompressible, would act against the pistons and hold them in position. The pistons, through the arms, would hold the brake-shoes securely against the brakeways, and asthese diverge the car is between floors, to lower the carfrom the guideways would cause the parts to bind between the guideways and the brakeways, if brakes were used only on one side of the guideways, or between the brakeways, if the double guideways were used, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As the brake-shoes are always in contact with the brakeways, the car would be speedily arrested, by the closing of the valve, at any point between its upper and lower limits. The opening and closing of the valve may be automatically effected by means of the vane heretofore described.

In its normal position, and with the valve open, the vane hangs as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, its movement being limited by any suitable stop, and it is so adjusted that in the ordinary descent of the car it will hang in the position shown in thesaid figures, with the valve open; buton asudden starting of the car downward such as would be caused by breaking of the cable-the vane will be forced by atmospheric pressure upward, thus closing the valve. This valve may also be opened or closed at will by the operator by means of the cord 0, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, thus enabling the operator, when the breaking of the cable occurs while to any desired point. A catch, Z, is provided, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, for holding the vane in this raised position with the valve closed. This catch is operated by an arm and springtreadle, m, so that the vane can be released by the foot of the operator; or any other means for releasing the vane may be used instead.

In order that the valve may be operated quickly and with a slight movement, I have formed the valve-openings, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5,narrowandelongatedinlineparallelwith the axis of the valve. The valve may be operated by any other meansas, for example, by connecting the cord 0, which may be attached to the vane or to the arms h, to the surface of a revolving cylinder or drum in the upper part of the car, and operated by a coiled spring, as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. By means of arope, 1), which is attached also to the outer surface of the cylinder, the cylinder is turned suifioiently far to coil the interior spring and to lower the cord 0. The ropep is then made fast to the main cable 1?, and in this way holds the spring in place. In case the cable breaks thespring will be released, and by winding the cord 0 around the cylinder will immediately draw up the vane H or on the arms 72, and close the valve.

In the form of the brake mechanism and the way (shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive) the For example, the brakeway may" inderl),which has induction-portsatbothends connected with the valve-chamber by pipes q,

To suit this form of the valve and its operating mechanism being substantially the same as heretofore described.

The water (or whatever liquid used) flows when the valve is open into both ends of the cylinder, and when the valve is closed the water is shut in at both ends, so that the piston is locked in place by the water. The valve is in the form of a three-way cock, as shown in Fig. 9, its ports being arranged to supply both pipes simultaneously, and to close both simultaneousl y. The ports act alternately as induction and eduction ports, and the liquid is forced first into one end of the cylinder and then into the other. In this form a tank would be required only to supply waste. The piston-rod I is connected toa cross-bar, (shownin Fig. 8,) on the ends of which are the brake-shoes, which may be attached to a bar by spindles entering holes in the bar to give automatic adjustment. The brake-shoes are flared, as shown in detail, Fig. 10, to cause them to run easily on the curved way. The bar is marked Q in Fig. 7, and its connections are clearly illustrated, the figure being a bottom view of the car shown in Fig. 6. In the descent of the car, in the modification shown in Fig. 6, the bar Q moves alternately in and out, causing the piston to reciprocate in the cylinder, and asit reciprocates the piston forces, alternately, the water first out of one end of the cylinder into the other; but when the valve is closed, as before stated, the water is shutiuto the cylinder, and the piston stopped. This causes the shoe to bind upon the incline brakeway, either upon the inner or outer surface of the way, according to the direction of the incline upon which the car happens to be when the valve is closed. f

It is obvious that the series of incline, or oblique ways may be multiplied any number of times desired, and are therefore especially adapted to elevator-shafts of great height. It is also obvious from the position of the ways that the upward movement of the car imparts to the piston and its connections the same motion as is imparted by the downward movement of the car. If desired, avane connected with the stop-cock 9 may therefore be placed on the top of the c'arto prevent a too rapid ascent of the car in case the mechanism now used in controlling the motion of the car should fail to perform its proper office. This mechanism'is shown in Fig. 1. The supplemental fan H is pivoted upon the top of the car, and extends upwardly at an angle. A weight, 5,

-or equivalent spring, is employed to keep it in its normal position, connection between this fan and the valve 9 being made through the pulleys 6 8, 6 8 and intermediate straps, 7 7. The stem b of the valve is slightly extended to effect the connection,- otherwise the devices on the bottom of the car are not changed from the forms described above.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with the car of an elevator and its'guideways, a brakeway inclined to the guideway, a cylinder and piston, and connections to supply the cylinderwith liquid, provided with a valve or stop-cock, and means for closing the valve when the car falls, and connections between the piston and brakeshoes bearing on the inclined way, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the car of an elevator and its guideways, a brakeway on each side of the guideway, inclined to the guide, a cylinder fixed, to the car, having connection at its center, a tank carried on the car, whereby the liquid may be introduced from the tank into the cylinder, or the reverse, a stop-cock, and means for automatically operatingthe stop-coek to close the cylinder upon the rapid descent of the car, and pistons in the cylinders connected to brake-shoes bearing on the brakeway, all substantially as described.

3. In combination with an elevator-car, a cylinder, D, brake-shoes bearing upon ways inclined to the guideways, and piston-connecthe described mechanism, whereby the ,valve may be closed, and a catch with mechanism for operating it,whereby the valve may be held closed, substantially as described.

5. In combination with an elevator-car, a cylinder, brake shoes bearing upon ways oblique to the guideways, and connected with the cylinder by piston-connection, a valve having arms connected to a closing mechanism with catch mechanism, and a cord attached to the valve-arm, and passing through the car, whereby the valve may be opened or closed at will by the operator, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the cylinder fixed to the car, the arms having piston-connection with the cylinder, and the brakeways having heads, the brake-shoes constructed to clasp the heads of the brakeways,whereby the piston is operated in both directions, all substantially as described.

7. In combination with the car of an elevator and its guideways, a brakeway inclined to the guideway, a cylinder, and piston-connections to supply the cylinder with liquid, a stop-cock, and means for automatically operating the stop-cock to close the cylinder upon either the rapid ascent or descent of the car, and connections between thepiston and brakeshoes bearing upon the inclined ways, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of tWosubscribing witnesses.

' WALES HUBBARD.

Witnesses:

' WALTER DONALDSON,

W. C. DUVALL. 

